Regulating valve



6, 1948.l w. w. TAYLOR 2,434,020

REGULATING VALVE Original Filed Sept. 2, 1942 y 6o I7 l 20 i l (/2 INVENTORT WALTQER u. TAYLOR.

A 7' TORNE K 75 0u. SUPPLY Patented Jan. 6, 1,948

' BEGULATING VALVE ','Walt'er W.' 'layl'onf Oakland, Calif., assignor, by direct and: mesne assignments, to Malsbary Manufacturing Company, Oakland, Calif.,I a

f corporation of California ',Qrginal application September 2., 1942, Serial No. 457,005,v now Patent No. 2,364,489, dated December,5,j.19,44. Divided and this application December .26, 1942, Serial No. 470,256

6 Claims. (Cl. 137-153) The present invention relates to a regulating valve foran oil burner'using a pressureatomizing nozzle andis adivision 'of my'copending application Serial Number 4573005,vf11ed September 2,'

1942,. now Patent No, 2,364,489, granted December 5,'1944, for Letters Patent'on a Fuel feeding system for a burner. 'While the parentapplication is directed generally to a fuelv feedingisystem, the present application is confined to a regulating valve usedin the system.

'Ihe principal object of my invention is to provide means, in'connection with a burner -of the characterA described, for metering the fuelv supply to theburner insuch a manner as to maintain a desiredl constant temperaturein a liquid or sub'- stanceheated by the'lburner.

In carrying out this object, itis proposed to provide a regulating valve inthe supply conduit for theeburner, the regulating valve being adapted to vary the amount o1"V fuel" fedA and the pressure under which it-is fedf'in accordance. withV changes brought about ina thermostat,zwhich latter is preferably positioned in a lcoiler-V or coil to be heated by the burner.

It is thus proposed to keep the temperature in the boiler constant and to provide a lvalve in. the fuel line, subject to temperature control, which4 will fill the requirementsoi the burner to accomplish that object.

It is further proposed to provide a regulating valve ofthe character described which is. simple and rugged in construction,I whichoperates automatically tol keep the Vtemperature in the substance to-be 'heated at a constant level, and which,

after' initial peakloadsto securethe .desired temy perature, -levels off' to, a smooth, balanced and steady flow, metering outk the exact amount of fuel required to accomplish. a given result.

I further propose to. provide, in combination with the regulating Valve, a second valve intended for'the purpose of shutting oithe vfuel supply to the burner Whenever the pressure inthe feeding system' drops 'below a` lcertain minimum and, of automatically reopening when the pressure rises again to a predeterminedl degree.

In bur-ners of the character described,y it is not desirable that the burner continue to operate WhenV the pres-sure dropsrbelow a certain point,- because in that case the burner action becomes sluggishv and soot is apt to collect about the burner oricesso as to impairtheefciency ofl the burner. It is desirablatherefore, that the'fuel supply be cut ofi altogether'whenthe r'iressure` dropsl to a predetermined low point. v

It is further advantageous, that-after the' fuel ksupply4 has Ybeenv cut off completely, due to low pressure, it be not re-opened until after the pressure in the supply system hasgreatlyincreased, thus leaving a considerable differential between y.fthe pressure suicient to. keepV the burner going and the pressure desirable :for re-starting Vthe burner.

If, for instance, under a given set ofV circumstances,V it may be permissible `to keep the burner going until the pressuredrops'to` 25 pounds, itis highly desirable that the burner be not re-.started until the pressure vhas been: increased` toy say '7 5 pounds.

It is proposed, therefore, to arrange the second valve in` such a manner that it automatically shuts off-'Whenvthe pressure drops to a predetermined minimum and lremains lshut olf until the pressurek has risen to a point much higherthan the minimum, whereuponthe increasedvpressure automatically re-opens thervalve.

"Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the specification proceeds, and the Vnovel featuresthereof will be fullyfset forth iin the claims hereto appended. 25V` The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanyingdrawing forming part of'rthis application, in which the single gure diagrammatically illustrates my fuel feeding system; the principal portions being shown in section. 3'0

While I' have shown only' the preferred form of my invention, I wish to have it understood that various changes or modifications may be made within-the scope of the claims hereto attached, Without departing from thespirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail', my inventionnds its principal use in connection with an oil burner I hav/ing a conventional atomizing nozzle 2 to which 'oil is' fed under pressure from a suitable source.

. Mysystem includes in its principal features, a regulating Valve 4, a thermostat-operated control valv 5 forthe same, and an automatic shutoff and re-startingvalve, indicated at 6. A boiler 'l is assumed to be mounted above the burner so as to be heated thereby and is Lprovided with a thermostat 8.

klI he object of the invention is to meterthe oil to theburner in such a manner that the temperature about the thermostat remains substantially constant, toautomaticallyshut off the fuelsupply when the feeding pressure drops to a predetermined minimum, and to automatically re-start delivery of fuel to the burner only after the delivery pressure has risen to a' point considerably above t-he saidf-minimumpressure.

The housing is formed with a central partition i5 in which is mounted a conventional gear pump Y l5 which pumps oil from the intake I0 through a. conventional strainer and a passage |8 into a cylindrical chamber |9 which communicates through its outlet |2 with the burner nozzle.

The chamber I9 has a pointed pin 2D rising from the bottom thereof, and this pin cooperates with the bottom 2| of a bellows 22 mounted on a ledge 23 in the chamber in forming a pressurerelief valve 24, the bottom 2| of the bellows being urged toward the pointed end of the pin 29 by means of a spring 25 tending to close the valve.

When the pump passes an excess amount of oil through the system, the excess may escape through the valve 24 into the upper part 25 of the chamber I9, and thence through a passage 21 back tothe strainer I'I to re-join the oil coming from the source of supply.

The outer end of the spring 25 bears against a seat 28 at the end of a stem 29 of a piston 39 movable in a cylindrical chamber 3| provided in the housing in alinement with the chamber I9. This Vpiston serves the function of a movab1e pressure member for varying the tension of the spring 25 in accordance with fuel feed requirements for maintaining a desired temperature about the thermostat.

The movement' of the piston is limited in a downward direction by the piston striking the bottom ofthe cylinder, and in the opposite direction by the seat 28 striking the saine wall. This prevents the spring from being compressed into a solid unit which would close the valve completely, and from expanding altogether, which might relieve all pressure on the bellows.

It is apparent that when the tension of the spring is increased.' less oil will be by-passed through the valve 24, and when the tension is decreased, more oil will be by-passed. It should be noted that any other suitable pressure member, such as a conventional bellows, may be substituted for the piston 39, particularly with a View of preventing leaking about the wall of the piston.

The outer end of the chamber 3| is in communication with the lower end of chamber |9 through a passage 32 which connects with chamber 3| through a restricted oriiice 33, so that in the normaloperation of the device, the pressure prevailing in chamber 3| -is the same as that prevailing in chamber I9. `The spring 25, in this condition, is under considerable tension, but still allows the valve 24 to by-pass a normal excess of oil which it is desirable to pump through the system to assure a generous oil supply.

But the chamber 3| is also connected, through the conduit 34, with valve 5 which serves as a control valve for the chamber. This valve may be of any suitable construction and comprises in its principal features an intake port 35 communieating with conduit 34, an outlet port 36 communicating with the source of supply or the strainer a valve seat 3T and a valve member 38 adapted to be seated on the seat. The upper end of the valve member is acted on by a spring 39 in the chamber 4!) whereby the valve member is urged upon the seat.

The chamber 49 connects with the intake port 35 through a passage 4| and the valve member 38 has a stem 42 movable in a cylinder 43, the stem being provided with an annular groove 44 communicating, through a passage 45 with the outlet port 36, so that, when the valve member 38 is lifted oi its seat, oil may flow from the intake port 35 to the outlet port 35.

It should be noted that when the valve 5 is open, oil may ow through the valve from the chamber 3| at a rate quicker than the capacity of the orifice 33 is able to fill the chamber so that the pressure'on the piston 39 is relieved. This again decreases the tension of the spring 25 and allows more oil to escape through the valve 24 for decreasing the pressure in chamber I9 and for lessening the flow of oil to the burner nozzle.

The valve 5 is operated by a. thermostat 8 in any suitable manner. The thermostat is arranged in the boiler 1 which latter is heated by the vburner While the construction of the thermostat 8 is not essential for the purposes of this invention, it might be pointed out that the same is preferably of the type illustrated in the application of Job J. Malsbary and myself on a Cleaning machine, Serial Number 249,184, iiled January 4, 1939, now Patent Number 2,295,228, granted Sept. 8, 1942, and comprising in its principal features, a tube 46 of ordinary, expansible material mounted to extend into the boiler to be heated and in heat exchange relation with the liquid contained therein.

Inside of this tube, and secured to the inner end thereof, as at 4l, is a rod 48 of non-expansible metal, such as Invar steel, the outer end of the rod projecting beyond the end of the tube. The operative length of the rod may be adjusted by deepening or lessening the engagement'therewith of a threaded extension sleeve 49 which operation may be performed through a handle 50.

It is apparent that as the temperature in the boiler rises, the tube 45 expands and draws the outerend of the Invar steel-rod 48 inwardly,

whereas a dropping of the temperature has the opposite eiect. Y s

The thermostat operates the valve 5through a lever 5| Y pivotally supported, as at 52, and adapted to bear on a push pin 53, which latter, through a diaphragm 54, bears on the stem 42 of the valve member 38. The free end of the lever bears on the sleeve 49 of the Invar steel rod 48 and is urged into said position by a spring 55.

The sleeve 49 on the Invar steel rod may be adjusted by means of the handle 50 to a desired temperature of theboiler or the liquid contained therein. As long as this temperature is maintained, the valve 5 remains closed with the result that the pressures in chambers I9 and 3| of the regulating valve are balanced and oil is fed Vto the burnerv in a smooth and steady iiow.

If the temperature in the boiler should rise above the desired degna-expansion of the thermostat tube 45 will cause the end of the Invar steel rod to recede, with the result that spring 55, through the lever 5|, pushes the pin 53 inwardly, thereby opening the valve 5. This, in turri, allows oil to escape from the chamber 3| at a rate faster than the orifice 33 can supply it, with the result that the tension of spring 25 slackens and allows more oil to escape throughV -To 1 recapi-tulatefoilisspumped; by. `the pump: I. 6.. through the cham-ber ISNtOWard-'the burner andi normally-through passage 32 into chamber 3:I, soA

ture in theboiler 'increases-beyond; the desiredY degree, the Invar steel-rod of the thermostat-8 recedes and allows the spring `55-to open-thevalve- 5, whereby the pressure inchamberS-I isv 1relievgll,v degreasing, the tension n spring 25 and allowingmore -oil to escape through valve 24, whereby the pressurein chamber I9 is lowered and the burner is fed less oil under less pressure until conditions. right. themselves.

In the system thus far described, itis. desirable that whenthe pressure drops. below. a predetermined degree, say 25 pounds, feeding of oil to the burner be discontinued altogether, because feeding at lower pressuresrnight result inincomplete combustion,Y the-forming ofsoot andi the clogging of 'theburner nozzle. yItis also desirable, ofcourse, that theburner-bestarted againautomaticallyV assoon.astlfle proper-'pressure is reestablished; llt-is preferable, however, to delay the restarting until` apressure .considerably above the. shutting-off Vpressure hasbeen reached.

Assuming., for instance, that the; temperature in the. boiler has .reached` apoint where thethermostat allows the valve to open sufficiently far to reduce the pressure in chamber I9 to about 25 pounds. At that point it is desirable to shut off the fuel completely. A slight cooling of the thermostat would increase the pressure slightly, but it is not desirable to restart the burner while the pressure lingers about this low level. It is advantageous 1-,0 delay restarting .of the burner until the pressure has again increased to substantially normal operating pressure, say 75 pounds, and my control valve 6 is designed to take care of this situation.

The valve 6 comprises an intake port 6I) communicating with conduit I 3, an outlet port 6 I connecting with conduit I4, a valve seat 62, a valve member 63, preferably of the ball type, for the seat, and a pressure member E4 urging the balll upon its seat under the influence of a spring 65. The yball is adapted to be lifted from its seat by the pressure of the incoming oil, which operation involves, of course, operation of the pressure member 64. While the valve is closed, the under surface of the ball is the only area on which the pressure is active. Once the valve is open, the flowing oil becomes active on the lower face of the pressure member for lifting the latter.

The ball and the pressure member are proportioned so that the pressure member offers much greater lifting surface to the oil than does the ball, probably about three times as much. Thus it takes three times as much pressure to open the valve than it does to retain it in open position. Under the conditions selected, oil flowing through the open valve and acting on the pressure member 64 directly, would be able to retain the valve in open position until the pressure drops to less than 25 pounds, while on the other hand, with the valve closed and the oil acting only on the smaller area of the ball, it would take about '75 pounds of pressure to reopen the valve.

Thus the valve 6 serves'the function of automatically opening, sayY at 75 pounds pressure, of maintaining it open until the pressure drops to 25 pounds, .of then closing the valve, and of automatically reopening the valve when the pressure of 75 pounds has again been reached.

6als Iclalm: L 1f'. In alregulating;

receive afluid! under pressure, an outlet conduit for ithe chamber-having a restricted discharge,

a pressure-relier valve.r for the chamber including.r a pressure. member mountedv to, divide-'the chamber tio-.provide av separate. secon'rlcomparts.-4 ment and operable .to` discharge intoA the. latter cempartment,.an outlet conduit for said compart.`

ment, a secondy pressureY member havingyielding means bearinglon the first pressure member for urging-therelief'.valve closed, means for normally subjecting I1,h'el.secondA pressure member to thev pressure-.prevailinginthe rst chamber, and controlled' means for relieving. the. pressure on. the! seoondlpressure member for reducing the pressure.

necessary-to open the relief valve.

2. VInaregulating valvev of the character described, a housing having a chamber thereinv adapted: to havea fuelpumped therethrough, a bellows mounted in the chamber so as to-dvide thesame intotwo. compartments, the end of the bellows having an aperture extending therethrough `to provide a direct communication betherewith, a spring bearing ony the endof the r bellows and tending to urge the valve seat upon the xed member, a movable pressure member bearing on the free end of the spring, and a bypass conduit arranged to conduct fuel from said chamber to bear on the movable pressure member and an outlet conduit for the second compartment.

3. In a regulating valve of the character described, a housing having a chamber therein adapted to have a fuel pumped therethrough, a bellows mounted in the chamber so as to divide the same into two compartments, the end of the bellows having an aperture extending therethrough to provide a direct communication between the said compartments and to form a valve seat, a xed member in one of the compartments cooperable with the valve seat to form a valve therewith, a spring bearing on the end of the bellows and tending to urge the valve seat upon the fixed member, a movable pressure member bearing on the free end of the spring, and a bypass conduit arranged to conduct fuel from said chamber to bear on the movable pressure member, the by-pass conduit including a restricted orifice instrumental in controlling the balancing of pressure on opposite sides thereof and the second compartment having an outlet conduit.

4. In a regulating valve of the character described, a housing having a chamber therein adapted to have a fuel pumped therethrough, a bellows mounted in the chamber so as to divide the same into two compartments, the end of the bellows having an aperture extending therethrough to provide a direct communication between the said compartments and to form a valve seat, a fixed member in one of the compartments cooperable with the valve seat to form a valve therewith, a spring bearing on the end of the bellows and tending to urge the valve seat upon the xed member, a movable pressure member bearing on the free end of the spring and mounted with limited freedom of spring-actuating movement, and a by-pass conduit arranged to conduct fuel from said chamber to bear on the movable presssure member the second compartment having an outlet conduit.

valve: of the.V characters .de-.5. scribed/a housing having a chamber adapted; to.,

5. In a regulating valve of the character described, a housing .having a chamber therein adapted to have a fuel pumped therethrough, a bellows mounted in the chamber so Vas to divide the same into two compartments, the end of the bellows having an aperture extending therethrough to provide a direct communication between the said compartments and to form a valve seat, a xed member in one of the compartments cooperable with the valve seat to form a valve therewith, a spring bearing on the end of the bellows and tending to urge the valve seat upon the xed member, a movable pressure member bearing on the free end of the spring and mounted with limited freedom for spring-actuating movement, and a by-pass conduit arranged to conduct fuel from said chamber to bear on the movable pressure member, the by-pass conduit including a restricted orifice instrumental in controlling the balancing of pressure onfopposite sides thereof and the second compartment having an outlet conduit. 1

6. In Va regulating valve of the character described, a housing having a chamber therein adapted to have a fuel pumped therethrough, a member movable in the chamber and mounted to divide the same into two compartments, the said member having an aperture extending therethrough to provide aV direct communication between the said compartments and to form a valve seat, a fixed member in one of the compartments cooperable with the valve seat to form a valve therewith, a spring bearing on the movable member and tending to urge the valve seat upon the fixed member, a movable pressure member bearing on the free end of the spring, a by-pass conduit arranged to conduct fuel from said chamber to bear on the pressure member, and an outlet conduit for the second compartment.

WALTER W. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES errar) The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

